Can-filling machine.



P. 1. LONGROD. CAN FILLING MAC I E,"

APPLICATION men mums. 1916., 1,268,739. Patenltedlune l, 1918.

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( BY A ATTORNEKS nnsatarns UFFME.

To FRANK H. van YORK.

GAIN-FILLING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER I. LONGROD, of East Williamson, in the county of Wayne and State-0f New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can- Filling Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to'be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My invention relates to a machine for filling cans and the like and is adapted more particularly for use in connection with the canning of fruit and vegetables where it is desired to fill a maximum number of cans in a minimum amount of time. I

The invention has for its main object to provide a simple and efiicient semi-automatic machine of this class comprising an endless conveyor belt which automatically moves the cans through a carrier'which is adapted fo vibratory or oscillatory movement to set tle and compact the contents of the cans received from a hopper located above the carrier. The invention also has for its object to provide improved means for closing the hopper discharge valve and for holding the cans in register with the hopper outlet-s, both of said means being preferably operative simultaneously by a manually controlled lever when a series of filled cans is to be replaced by another se-v ries of'empty'cans to be filled( To these and other ends the invention consists 1n certain improvements and combinatlons of parts all as will be hereinafter more fullyescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawi n Figure 1 is a f iint elevation of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line a,a of Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on line bb of Fig. 1'

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the hopper base with the hopper removed showing the gate for closing the discharge openings leading from the hopper, and y Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken on line o c of Fig. 3. v

Specification of Lettern Patent.

At the left hand Similar reference characters throughout the several views indicate the saine parts.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 represents a pair of transversely positioned frame supports connected centrally bya longitudinal member 2. Carried upon the Patented J 1111164, 191%. Application filed March 1a, 1916. Serial No. 84,508.

frame supports '1 are upright frame memhere 3 machine by a centrally disposed, brace 5 and at the back by a correspondingly positioned brace 6. The top ends ofthe upright. frame members 3 and 4 are beveled inwardly to receive the rails 7 which are inclined down wardly toward each other to engage the sloping sides of the hopper or container 8 as shown in Fig. 3. A receiving table 9 for supporting the cans or other receptacles is positioned at, the right of the machine upon the frame members 4, the outerend of the tableflbeing supported by a pair of inclined braces 10 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

end of the machine is p0- sitioned a discharge table 11, the inner and l'connected at the frdnt of the end of which is secured upon the frame members 3. The outer end of the discharge table is supported by the inclinedbraces' 12 as shown in Fig. 1. Upon theouter end i of the table 11 and braces 12are provided bearings 13 in which a' shaft l i'is journaled carrying a driving pulley 15 adapted to be driven by a belt 16 which maybe connected with any suitable source of power. A pulley 17 is rigidly'mounted upon the shaft 14" centrally of the table 11 as shown in Fig.4.

Secured upon the outer end of the table 9 and braces 10 are bearings 18 carryin a shaft 19 provided with a pulley'20. A elt 21 connects the pulleys 17 and 20 to form an endless convcyer for moving the cans 22 or sion upon the belt is maintained bv'an idler 24 mounted on a shaft 25 journaled m ai'ni's 26 pivotally connected with the inner faces of the frame members 3 by suitable bolts 27 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

A movably mounted carrier 28 is pro: vided for temporarily holding'the cans w ile being filled and vibrated which preferably f at each end u 2 i i i 5 comprises upper and lovteriw 14;: 29 and 30 respectively connected by lfr nt and rear. wa

1s. 31' and 32 respectively, as'shoWn in.

Fig. 3. The carrier is pivotally suspended lpon hangers 33 offset at 34' to extend to t e inner. faces of the frame members 3 and 4, upon which said hangers .are ivotally mounted by suitable bolts 35.

the belt 21 from the receiving Bysuspendmg the carrier in this manner it. is free to be vibrated endwise beneath the hopper or container 8 which 1s adapted to rest within a recess formed in the upper face of the carrier top wall 29 as shown in Fig.

'3; The wall-29 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 36 adapted to register with the cans 22 when the latter are in the osition shown in Fig. 1. The conveyer or elt 21 is arranged to travel through the carrier 28, the ends of the latter being open to receive "and discharge the cans carried by table 9' to the discharge table 11. The belt conveyor is adapted to travel upon the upper surface of the-wall of the carrier and between the walls.31 and 32 thereof as shownin Fig.

1 3 .to convey the cans or other receptacles beneath the. openings 36 in the upper wall 29 of the carrier. 'In order to provide means for temporarily arresting the cans upon the oon-veyer beneath said openings to fill the 'same'from the hopper I position upon the inner face of the"wal1"32 upper and lower cleats 37 beveled at one end as indicated at '38 toassist in guiding the cans into position beneath the hopper. The cleats are provided with curved depressions 37 corresponding substantially with the curvature of the cans and are so spaced as to cause. the

oans, when held therein, to register .with

, ahead of it.

. in these .front of the depressions 37"for'med in the which may be the openings 36 formed through the wall 29 of the carrier.; A spring 39 is placedupon the side wall 31 of'the carrier to engage and hold the first of the cansconveyed to the carrier by the belt 21. As each succeeding can is brought into position by the belt conveyor it is halted by the can immediately JWhen the cans are retained positions they are immediately in cleats 37 as shown in Fig. 6. Thespring 39 is of suflicient strength to hold the cans at rest upon the moving beltwhen said cans are empty, but will nothold them when they are filed with contents from the hopper. It is therefore, necessarytq provide means moved into engagement with the cans while they are being, filledand vibrated v--to compact the contents therein, otherwise the friction between the cans and the belt due was weight of said contents,

would'be sufiicient to causc'them to move with the belt against the action of the spring 39. It is also necessary" to provide means for releasing the. contents of the a hopper through the openings 36 into the cans registilt the bin need-73o tering therewith and in this connection, I prefer to combine the means for carrylng out these two operations in such a way that they will he performed simultaneously by theoperation of'a single member. To

this end I provide upon the carrier front wall 31. a bar 40 pivotally connected to.

said wall by means of suitable hinges 41, said wall being provided with an opening 42 to receive the bar as indicated in-Fig. 3, The inner face of the bar is provided with depressions 43 opposite the cans 22 as shown in Fig. 6. Next the depressions and spaced a slight distance therefrom is a'can engaging member 45 extending the full length of the bar 40 and engaging the latter at the points 46 as shown in Fig.6. The can engaging member is preferably formed of spring material and is adapted to yieldingly engage the cans when forced into contact therewith. Extending from the bar 40 contrally-thereof is an arm 4?, the' outer end ofwhlch is pivotally connected with a link 48, the lower end of the link being pivotally connected with a. tread lever 49 pivoted at 50 to a bracket 51mounted upon the longitudinal tie member 2 as shown in Fig. 3. 'The lever 49 isnoi-mally held in the position shown infull linesin this figureby a-spring 52, one end of which is secured to the brace 5 and the other end to the lever intermediate the pivot ofv the link 48.and bracket 51. The outer end of the lever isprovided with a tread 53 adapted to be engaged by the foot of the operator to depress the lever and thereby forwardly ged can engaging member 40-45 to the positlon shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 when it is desired to carry the empty cans beneath the openings 36 by the belt 21 and to carry the filled cans to the table 11. As

soon as-the cans are in position to register 'with the openings, the lever is released and the spring 52 forces the elastic clamping member 45 into engagement with the cans through the medium of the bar 40,- arm 47 and link 48. The rear end of the lever is pivotally connected at 54 with a link 5 the upper; end of which is pivotally con nected at 56 to the lower end of'a lever 57 which is pivotally mounted upon a bolt 58 supported by a bracket 59 secured upon the bottom edge of the rear wall 32 of the carrier as shownin Fig. 3. p The upper end of the lever 57 ispivoted upon a rod 60 which extends throu h. the lever and projects a considerable dlstance upon the opposite sides thereof. The ends of the rod 60 are connected with bars 61 which are secured upon a horizontally arranged gate 62, which extends through the front wall 31 of the carrier immediately beneath the to wall 29 thereof. The ends of the gate are slidably mounted in tioned upon the front frame members 3 guide members63 posicured-to thelink andthe'outer ends to the and 4:, which are slotted at 64 to provide clearance for the ends of the gate when the latter is moved longitudinally of the machine upon vibrati'on of the carrier 28. r The gate 62 is also guided between the upper wall 29 and front wall 31 of the carrier as well as by the guides 63. The lever 57 at the point where it is pivoted upon the bolt 58 is provided with a vertical slot 65 to allow 1 the lever to be slightly raised and lowered when it is being pivotally moved to operate the gate, move freely in a horizontal plane; The tread lever 49 is held against side movement by a pair of guide bars-66 terminating at their upper parts in upwardly diverging portions 67 each of which is secured to the brace 5 by suitable screws as shown in Fig. 1. Considerable play is allowed between the jaws at the lower ends of the links 48 and 55 and the tread-lever 49 where they straddle the latter, to take care of the side movement ofthe links produced by the longitudinal :movement of thevibrating carrier 28. The link 48 is provided with isteadying means comprising the oppositely positioned springs 68, the inner ends of which are sefront, frame members 3 and 4. The link 55 is provided with similar steadying means comprising the springs 69, the inner ends,

of which are secured to the link and the outer ends toathe rear frame members 3 and 4. The-endwise vibration of the carrier 28 is eflected by means of a pulley 70 mounted on a shaft 71 and'driven by a belt 72. The

shaft is mounted in bearings 73 on the frame members 4 and is provided with an eccentricallymounted disk 74, revoluble in a colis secured one end of a connecting rod 77, the other end of which is rigidly secured upon thebottom wall 30 of the carrier 28. A loose pulley 78is mounted upon the shaft 71 and carries the belt 72 until it is desired to vibrate the'carrier 28 at which time the belt is shifted to the fixed pulley 70 by a bar 79 suitably connected with the belt and slidingly mounted on pins 80 carried by the frame members l. The belt shifting bar is operated by a lever 81 with which it is piv-' otally connected at 82, the lower end of the lever being pivoted at 83 'to' one of the frame su ports as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The vibration of the carrier 28 is effected by th e' means just described while the belt conveyer 21 is traveling through the carrier and without interfering, with the' movement of the belt upon the pulleys 17 and 20r The distance through which the carrier is moved longitudinally of the machine-is very slight I and is not sufiicient to cause any undue strain upon the belt or deflection thereof.

The operation may be briefly summarlzed as follows: Prior to filling the hopper 8 thereby. permitting 'the gate to 7 cans are placed upon the elt lar carrying an extension 76 upon which are carried forward by tor adjusts the lever 81. to shift the belt 72 to the loose pulley 78 to prevent vibration of the can carrier 28, and the treadle lever 49 will be temporarily locked in the depressed dotted line position of Fig. 3, thereby moving the gate 62 rearward to'close the,hop per outlets 36, and also holding the can clamping member 40-45 inthe forwardly tilted charged and the belt 21 is started, the empty at the table 5), and after four of the cans have been stopped by the springs 39 and by contact with each other, in position for filling them, the op eratorwvill release the treadle lever if) from its temporary lock- (not shown) to allow the spring 52 to raise it to the full --line position and simultaneously the lever connections 55 to 61, will move the gate 62 frontwise to dotted position. After the hopper is its full line position 31nd tlfus open the hop- '1 been swung up rearward to thus act when the gate 62 was opened by the spring 52. During filling of the cans, from the hoppcrthc operator will pull the lever 81' to shift the belt 72 to the fast pulley 70, thereby rotating the shaft 71 and the cams 74 to cause the rod 77 to vibrate or oscillate the carrier 28 en'dwise to shake down and compact the vegetables in the filled and clamped cans. When the cans are filled-the lever 81 will be pushed to throw the belt 72 back to the loosepulley 78 to thereby stop the vibration of the carrier, and the operator now depresses the treadle 49 which simultaneously shifts the gate 62 rearward to close thehopper outlets 36, and tilts the can clamping member 404 5 frontwise to the dotted position and clear of the filled cans which now the continuously moving belt 21 to the table 11, whence they are removedv for scaling in any approved manner. As fastas one series of filled cans is released from the clamping member another series of empty cans now being carried forward by the belt 21 will'be detained and clamped beneath the hopper outlets 36, to be filled as they are vibrated, and be then released and carried away to the table 11 by the belt 21, as will readily be understood.

While I have shown and described certain detail forms of construction and arrangements of parts 1n connection with my improved can fillin machine it is obvious that the same may varied to a consider able extent without departing from the spirit 'of the invention.

Iclaim as my invention: 1. A machine for filling receptacles comof sai receptacles.

2'5 prising a carrier adapte prising acarrier adapted to hold a plurality of receptacles, an endless conveyer running through the carriertadapted to deliver said receptacles to the latter and to 5 discharge them therefrom, means for temporarily arresting the receptacles upon the carrier, means for filling the receptacles while held by the carrier and means for vibratin the carrier to compact the contents 2. A machine for filling receptacles comprising a carrier adapted to hold a plurality of receptacles, an endless conveyer adapted to deliver said receptacles to the carrier and to discharge them therefrom,

means connected with the carrier for temporarily arrestingsaid receptacles upon the conveyer, a hopper adapted to be charged with contents for filling the receptacles when in said arrested position and means for releasing the contents of the hopper to discharge the same into the receptacles when the latter are held upon the conveyer. 3. A machine, for fillin receptacles com- (5 to hold a receptacle, an endless conveyer adapted to deliver said receptacle to the carrier and to discharge the same therefrom; means connected with the carrier fortemporarily arrest ing the receptacle upon the conveyer, va container above the carrier. adapted to be charged. with contents for filling the recepl tacle, a movable member. normally closing the bottom of the container and means for operatin said movable member to discharge e contents of the container into I I the receptacle.

4. A machine for filling receptacles comcrating said movable member todischarge the contents of the container. into the receptacle while the latter is'temporarily, ar rested upon the conveyer and means for vibrating the carrier-to causethe vibration of the receptacle upon the conveyer for the purpose of compacting said contents within the receptacle. v

5. A machine for filling receptacles comprising an endless conveyer adaptedvto carry a plurality of receptacles, a container adapted .to be charged with contents for filling said receptacles and having a plurality of spaced openings at itsbottom, a movable member adapted to close said openings,

means operable-t0 hold the receptac es upon the conveyer in registering engagement with said openings and a system of levers connected with said last mentioned means and said movable member adapted to be operated for simultaneously engaging the receptacles to hold them upon the conveyer and shifting said movable member to discharge the contents of the container into the receptacles.

' I. LONGROD.

Witnesses:

F. H. VAN Enmvm, ABRAM LEMGANT. 

